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But his latest quest was something he never dreamed he could do - writing and publishing a children's book.

Mr Williams, from Coven near Wolverhampton, said he was first inspired to write A Dragon's Quest after encouragement from his 10-year-old grandson Luke.

The 70-year-old said: "I've always made up stories. I was telling one to my grandson Luke about a hero dragon who was born with three heads.

"He loved it and said I should write a book. So I started putting pen to paper and before you had it, I had this book. I kept going back to Luke as well to ask him what he thought of certain bits."

The story was such a hit, his grandson even begged to take a copy to school so he could read a chapter to his friends in class.

Grandfather-of-four Mr Williams admitted if someone told him he was going to write a childrens book one day, he would not have believed it.

A colourful past, he was an army corporal with the Welsh Regiment from 1964 for eight years, even meeting his wife of 50 years Carol in Singapore when she was a corporal RMP.

The pair married in Singapore while still in service, and then returned home to England in 1972, where Mr Williams went on to be a firefighter at West Midlands Fire Service for just shy of 20 years - an injury meant he had to leave two months before receiving a long service medal.

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With two sons to provide for, the father moved to work as a hospital fire safety advisor for Sandwell NHS Trust. Since his retirement, he has been busy looking after his four grandchildren, helping work on his son's properties, and writing his book.

A Dragon's Quest, published by New Generation Publishing, took 18 months to write, Mr Williams said, and has plans to get started on another soon.

Wife Carol added: "Brian said it had been enjoyable but in his seventieth year somewhat challenging. Getting him to do his usual chores was a challenge, he was always busy in the office working on the manuscript. He cleverly got me to proof read and check his grammar. A bigger job than I had expected.

"Even so I can not express how proud I am of him, but I should not have been surprised. He has always been mine and our family’s hero."

Visit amazon.com and search A Dragon's Quest by Brian Williams to buy his book.